WO2003011137A3 - Device for examining muscle contraction - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a medical device for the examination of the motor system of the human or animal body by repeatable and definable examination and determination of the function and capacity of the musculature, for example the thumb muscles, by means of individually-adjustable support and fixing devices, for the body part to be examined, for example, hand with thumb and lower arm. Said support and fixing device has a thumb surround (13) with thumb connector (14) and a thumb lever (15). Said thumb lever is positively connected to the main device axle (1), arranged perpendicularly thereto, which for its part engages with a force generator, for example a moving magnet (188, 189). The main device axle (1) has axle stops (125, 126, 129) between the thumb lever (15) and the force generator (188, 189) to determine the type of muscle contraction and for automatic force limitation. The force generator (188, 189), together with the axle stops causes adjustable and repeatable reflex actions, by means of rapid load and muscle length variations. Stimulators in the form of exciting electrodes (109) are provided for the electrical stimulation of muscle, nerve or central nervous system. The determination of measured values occurs by means of force sensors (237, 238), muscle length sensors (239), accelerometers (240) and sensors for picking up electrical potential variations (204), skin temperature (204) and acoustic signals and vibrations (205).